Six Nations 2015: Sam Warburton force proves too strong as Wales keep Ireland's green tide at bay

So that is what it takes to beat Ireland.

Wales sacrificed their bodies, souls and everything in between to keep the relentless green tide at bay.

If Satan had been offered such a pact before the game, he might have said the terms were too prohibitive for the Welsh.

Statistics rarely paint the entire story of the match, but in this case they do a fine job of relaying the extraordinary lengths Wales went to in defence.

In total, they made 289 tackles at a 93 per cent completion rate.

There were warriors everywhere.

Dan Biggar, a fly half, and Scott Baldwin, a hooker, each made 20 …